Combination gas cock for thermostats



R. E. NEWELL COMBINATION GA s COCK FORTHERMOSTATS Filed May 2o, 1952 -5Sheets-sheet 1 March '19, 1935. E, NEWELL I 1,994,831

COMBINATIONl GAS COCK FOR THERMOSTATS Filed IvIay 20, 1932 3'Sheets-Sheet 2 Mllmh 19, E935. n R, EI NEWELL 1,994,831

COMBINATION GAS COCK FOR THERMQSTATS Filed may 2o, 1932 5- sheds-sheet sPatente i9, .it

COMBINATION GAS COCK FOR THERMO STATS .Robert E. Newell, Irwin, Pa.

Application May 20, 1932, Serial No. 612,625

2 Claims.

The present invention relates broadly to the art of fluid distribution,and more particularly to a control unit of compact and convenientconstruction consisting of a thermostat for tempera- 5 ture control of adomestic gas range oven, for

example, and a shut oii gas cock for the supply of gas through saidthermostat to the oven.

Stove manufacturers during the last few years have been concerned in theproduction of gas ranges not only with the eiliciency, but with thepleasing appearance thereof. As one feature leading to a more pleasingappearance, considerable attention has been paid to the construction ofthe front panel of the range, efforts being made to not only produce afront panel which is as compact as possible, but on which the differentcontrols are grouped in a pleasing and attractive manner.

With gas ranges not embodying automatic temperature control devices, ithas been possible to design the panels purely from the standpoint ofutility and attractiveness. Where thermostatic controls have beenprovided, however, a complication has been experienced. If the controldial for the thermostat has been made small enough to permit of itshaving been placed at one end of the control panel, its proximity to themanual control for the oven has presented an unbalanced and crowdedappearance.

In order to obviate this, it has been customary to place the oven cockat the opposite end of the panel and pipe across theburner chamber tothe oven. This is not only more expensive, but it is inconvenientandconfusing to the person using the controls, it being necessary to turnthe thermostat at one end of the panel to the proper temperature settingand then to reach to the opposite end of the panel in order to open theoven cock.

The present invention has for one of its objects the provision of acompact and convenient control unit of such pleasing design as to permitof its being placed on a control panel in such manner as to provide atemperature control setting and oven cock control handle in closelyadjacent readily accessible position. This permits removing the oven gascock from its former improper grouping with the burner cocks and make itconveniently adjacent to, and appear as a part of, a thermostaticcontrol unit which is obviously connected with the oven, this beingaccomplished without sacrificing the complete independent operationofthe cock and thermostat. A

While, on initial consideration, it might seem desirable tocombine themovement of the oven BEISSUEEA cock and thermostat dial, such anarrangement is open to certain objections. In the rst place, in order toset the thermostat dial accurately to a given marking, it is essentialthat the dial turn easily and smoothly so that the lady of the house,for instance, with her thumb and finger can quickly set the valve to thetemperature desired without the use of any undue force. Gas cocks, whenreally gas-tight, are often hard to turn, and after being subjected toheat or wear, frequently become jerkyin their operation. This isespecially true of the larger barrel cocks usually considered necessaryvfor oven gas capacity. Thus, if the thermostat dial is set by means ofand simultaneously with the gas cock stem, a quick, accurate and easyadjustment of the thermostat dial is at least difcult and annoying.

In the second place, when using an independent gas cock for the controlyof the gas to the oven, the user can be certain that when hev turns iteven approximately to the oi position, lthe gas is really shut off. Hecan ascertain this fact from a distance by the position of the handleWithout any close inspection of the dial markings andthe like.

In the third place, it has 4been found in practice that in order tocombinel the gas cock and thermostat on a common stem ,'the barrel ofthe gas cock has to be at least twice the usual di- I ameter, thusincreasing friction and the force necessary to turn it, this of coursebeing in addition to the force necessary to turn the thermostat itself.It is also true, that in spite of this increased diameter there is notsumcient sealing surface between the ports when the valve is closed toinsure perfect tightness under high pressure gas such as propane and thelike.

From the foregoing comments, the advantages of a compact grouping whileretaining the possibility of individual operation, will be apparent.

In the accompanying drawings, I have shown more or lessdiagrammatically, for purposes of illustration only, certain preferredembodiments of the present invention. In the drawings: Figure 1 is a topplanlview of a control unit constructed in accordance with the presentinvention;

' Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the structure illustrated inFigure 1;

Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the construction shown in Figures1- and 2;

Figure 4 is a top plan view similar to Figure l, of the gascock alone;

\ Figure 5 is a vperspective view of the stop clip for the combinationdial and gas cock;

Figure 6 is a front elevational view of the panel plate for thecombination dial and gas cock;

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view on the line VII-VII of Figure 6;and

Figure 8 is a view generally similar to Figure 1, but illustratinganother embodiment of my invention.

Having reference more particularly to Figure 1 of the drawings, I haveindicated by a broken line 2 the front panel or control panel of a gasrange and by a broken line 3, the outside of an oven wall partlyenclosing the oven space the temperature of whichis to be controlled.The broken line 4 indicates approximately the position of the insideoven liner defining one side of the oven space 5.

Extending longitudinally of the front panel, and in back of the same, isa burner manifold 6 one end of which communicates through a suitablecoupling 7 with a combination gas cock and thermostat mounting 8. 'I'hecasing 8 is shaped to receive a barrel cock of usual construction,preferably tapered, one end 9 of which is projected to receive a spring10 as customary in the art for the purpose of maintaining the desiredleakproof engagement between the barrel and its seat.

The opposite end ofthe casing 8 communicates with the inlet 11 of athermostatic valve 12 .the outlet 14 ofwhich leads to a suitable ovenburner, not shown. The valve 12 may be of such contour as to provideopenings 15 for fastening means enabling the valve to be secured to theoutside of the oven wall 3.

Extending through the oven wall are combined spacing and supportingmeans 16 preferably of relatively low heat conducting material adaptedto support a housing 17 for a bi-metal element 18 as claimed moreparticularly in my co-pending application Serial No. 616,791, led June13, 1932, now Patent No. 1,970,969. As pointed out in said application,the housing 17 is preferably of relatively low heat conducting materialsuchas chromium steel or the like having a polished surface disposedtoward the bi-metal element, the construction being such that thehousing and element are located substantially in the plane of the insideoven liner 4.

Projecting outwardly through one of the spacing means 16 is a flexiblecable 20 connected at one end with a screw 21 extending through theelement 18 and provided with an enlarged head 22 bearing against theface of the element 18 remote from the housing 17. The opposite end ofthe cable 20 is connected in any desired -manner to a dial 23 located infront of the front panel 2. Mounted on the front panel 2 is a panelplate 24 having an opening 25 for the dial and formed with diametricallyopposite openings 26 for the reception offastening means for holding thepanel platein position.

By reference more particularly to Figure 7 oi the drawings, it willbenoted that the panel plate 24 at its upper portion is relativelythicker than at its lower portion 27, the extra thickness of the upperportion being so disposed that the lower portion 27 will liesubstantially parallel to the front panel 2 but in spaced relationthereto. The thickened upper portion of the panel plate is also providedwith a depression 28 constituting a pointer for cooperation with thedial 23.

Extending rearwardly from the panel plate is a projection 29 adapted topass through an opening in the front panel 2. This projection is adaptedto extend into aslot 30 in the upstanding portion 31 of a stop clip asshown more particularly in Figure 5. This clip also comprises ahorizontally projecting portion 32 formed with an opening 33 throughwhich is adapted to pass a screw 34 for holding the stop clip in a slot35 in an extension 36 leading upwardly from the gas cock casing 8 asshown more particularly in Figure 3. Extending from the upstandingportion 31 in the opposite direction from the mounting 32 is a stop nger37 adapted to engage with a stop (not shown) on the inside of the dial23 whereby to preclude rotation of the dial through quite 360 in eitherdirection. In this manner the original dial setting determined by thefactory is preserved. y

By rotating the dial in one direction or the other, the temperatureadjusting screw 21 is correspondingly rotated thereby tending to eitherincrease or relieve tension on the bi-metal element 18. This element atone end bears against supporting ears 38 on the housing 17, such earsconstituting a fixed rocking mounting, and at the opposite end bearingagainst a gland pin 39 which projects into the valve casing 12 andengages the valve disk therein for moving the same in oppothe art foreffecting an opening movement thereof.

If it be assumed that the bi-metal is of such construction that under anincreasing temperature it will tend to flex to the right as viewed inFigure 2 away from the pin 39, then increased tension on the element 18will insure holding the valve open until a higher temperature is`reached in the oven 5, while by `decreasing this tension by rotatingthe screw 21 in the opposite direction, the flow of gas will be cutoffat a relatively lower temperature. I'I'he housing 17 is preferably ofsuch construction as to be adjustable in a. direction lengthwise of theelement 18, and with respect to the spacing and supporting means 16, as

described in my application before referred to, for the purpose ofchanging the effective length of the bi-metal element 18 and therebyenabling calibration to conform with actual conditions in the zonewithin the oven wherein the element is located and with the standardmarkings on th dial 23.

Secured to the front end of the gas cock within the casing 8 is a handle40 projecting downwardly between the front panel 2 and the panel plate24 to a sufficient extent to receive an actuating knob 41. 'I'he panelplate 24 is preferably provided with suitable indicia, as shown inFigure 2, showing the proper position of the knob 41 for either an on"or an off position of the gas cock.

In Figure 8 of the drawings there is illustrated a constructiongenerally similar to that shown in Figure 1, with the exception that thebi-metal element 18 is replaced by a rod and tube type ythermostat 42the pressure element 43 of which bears lagainst a lever 44 one end ofwhich lever' engages the gland pin 45 and the opposite end of which isengaged by the adjusting screw 46.

It will thus be apparent that the combination' dial and gas cockconstruction hereinbefore deadapted to provide a. mounting for the dialbvl means of which the thermostat is controlled, it is possible toprovide a compact and convenient control unit. possessing the advantagesbefore referred to.

While I have herein illustrated and described certain preferred featuresof construction, it will be understood that changes in the construction,arrangement and location of the parts may be made without departingeither from the spirit of my invention or the scope or my broaderclaims.

I claim: y

1. In a structure of the character described, a thermostatic valvecasing, a gas cock casing con- Inected thereto for delivering gas to thethermostatic casing, said gas cock casing having a gas cock therein, ahandle for operating said gas cock, a panel plate, and a thermostaticdial carried by said gas cock casing independently of said handle andsaid cock and arranged to regulate the now of gas through saidthermostatic valve casing, said dial extending through said panel plateand carrying indicia cooperating with indicia carried by said plate.

2. In a structure -of the character described, a thermostatic valvecasing, a gas cock casing connected thereto for delivering gas to thethermostatic valve casing, said gas cock casing having a gas cocktherein, a handle for operating said gas cock, a panel plate carryingindicia cooperating with said handle, and a thermostatic dial carried bysaid gas cock casing independently of said handle and said .cock andarranged to regulate the ow of gas through saidthermostatic valvecasing, said dial extending through said panel plate and carryingindicia cooperating wit indicia carried by said plate.

ROBERT E. 1w. i

